By: Kayhan Int’l Staff Writer

Today, in our first issue of the Calendar Year 1401 solar hijri, we felicitate our readers on the start of the blessed month of fasting with a fervent prayer to God Almighty for peace and prosperity of not just the Muslim Ummah but all humanity.
Ramadhan is the ideal occasion to reflect upon past deeds in order to rectify the wrongs, reform ourselves, and earnestly repent in the Divine Court for betterment of our families, our community, the society, the natural environment, the country, the geographical region, and the entire world.
It is indeed a blessing that the Coronavirus pandemic seems to have receded, or more properly brought under control by the endeavours of scientists, medical experts, and health workers, after two years of devastating waves that caused a high number of deaths, in addition to destruction of the national and world economy.
This has come as a relief and enabled the Islamic Republic to reopen schools and colleges, as well as allow full functioning of offices and trade centres, besides resumption of the spiritual atmosphere this Ramadhan at mosques, husseiniyahs, shrines, and other places of worship.
Hopefully, the nation would fully exploit this opportunity and strive to remove discrepancies that hinder progress and development.
In our last issue of the preceding Iranian Calendar Year on March 18 we had outlined the problems plaguing the world and wished solution to these crises in the year 1401.
We had lamented the invasion of Yemen by Saudi Arabia and the UAE on the orders of the US, Britain, and the illegal Zionist entity, and the trail of death and destruction the unnecessary 7-year war had taken.
Though it is too early to say that saner minds are beginning to prevail, the two-month ceasefire agreed by the invaders and the defenders on the start of the month of Ramadhan might be a good omen for end of the bloody conflict that has entered its eighth year.
Real peace and complete cessation of hostilities, however, does not depend on the mere silencing of guns, but requires the invaders to lift the siege of Yemeni seaports and the international airport of Sana’a.
Then only can the proper atmosphere be created for talks between the various political parties and religious groups of Yemen, albeit without participation of any outside elements, especially the invaders, for forming an inclusive government to ensure the country’s independence and development.
Of course, the Saudis and the Emiratis, if they are good Muslims as they claim, should seek forgiveness of God Almighty for following the orders of the Zionists and the Americans, apologize to the people of Yemen, and pay war indemnity to Arab world’s most impoverished country.
Are Riyadh and Abu Dhabi ready to repent in this blessed month of fasting and atone for their crimes against humanity, especially in view of the famous hadith of Prophet Muhammad (SAWA):
“The one negligent of the situation of Muslims cannot be called a Muslim.”